Valve-operating device



Apr. 24, 1923.

B. WICHSER VALVE OPERATING DEVICE 'Filed Aug. 4, 1920 r a m 1 ma d m .M 6 am y?, m

Patented l Apr. 24, 1923.

UNITED sfr-A TES PATENT OFFICE..

VALVE-OPERATING Dnvron.

Application :filed August 4, 1920.` Serial No. 401,247.

To all 'wlio'mt may concern:

Be it known that I, BERNHARD WioiisER, a resident of the borough of Brooklyn and county of Kings, in the city and State of New York, have Vinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve-Operating Devices, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates generally lto devices utilized for controlling the operation of a valve from a distant point, and it more particularly appertains to valves that are worked electrically.

, An important object is to produce an Ainiproved valve of the character described that can be depended on to give an instantaneous response when called into action, irrespective of the distance at which the control thereof may be located, and promptly to resume its normal condition when it has filled the purpose intended.

Another object is the productioniof a valve of the class referred to, which shall be governed in its action largely by pressure of the flow of liquid controlled thereby while moving in any direction, and be .relievedl as much fas is possible of .the extraneous assistance toreturn it into any particular position.

A further object is to provide a valve` of 'the nature set forth, the casing whereof shall have aligned apertures and bores, giving the required inlet and outlet .for the fluid, the

vsupply and discharge passages, and suitable chambers for the valve, its control, and operating mechanism, all practically extending diametrically in two general directions, the

arrangement being such Ithat the work ing parts can be removed from the casing without interfering with 'the control Lor either of the inlet and outlet connections.

Still another object .is the provision of 'a valve of the ytype mentioned,cwhich shall be equipped -for actuation both Aby .electrical and by mechanical means, so .that it can be operated by eithermeans at will, and controlled 'also from a point :close at hand, if desired, instead of from a. remote location.

An additional object is to supply a `valve of the kindspeciiied which shall be light and compact,.e`flicient and reliable, easily mounted as well as conveniently operatedand yat the same time simple .and comparatively finexpensive .to manufacture.

Otheri objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as fthe specification proceeds. Y

l With the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists of the novel combinations and arrangements of parts' 'hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed outin the subjoined claims, and illustrated on the annexed drawing, wherein likewp'arts are designated by the same reference -characters throughout the several views.

In the said drawing:

Figure I is a front view of a valve, including the casing therefor, embodying the principles ofthe invention;

Fig. II is an end view ofthe same, looking from the Aright-hanf'l side of Fig. I'

Fig. III is a central longitudinal section, viththe parts vertically disposed asin Hg. g

Fig. IV is a vertical transverse section yon the line IV-IVof Fig. I, looking to the left in the direction pointed out by the arrows; p

Fig. V is a similar section -on the line V-V of Fig. III, but looking in the opposite direction, as the arrows indicate; and

Fig. YI is likewise a vertical cross-section, taken along the line VIVI of Fig. III, and viewed from the rightV as the arrows point out. l

Generally described, the invention coinprises a casing of sufficient dimensions 4to enclose iviththe valve a control device for the same, and means for operating .it electrically. The casing has-the usual inlet and outlet, interconnected by internalsupply and kdischarge passages that. are adapted to be placed in .communication one with the other through a chamber within which the valve is slidably mounted. An ante-chamber` isalso ,providedfthe saine rbeing divided from the valve-chamber by .a movable head `pertaining ,totheva'lve rIlhis valve-.head is vperforated to afford aby-pass that will permit the-.fluid admitted into thercas'ing:andreaching-the valve-chamber to `flow at athefsame timeinto the ante-chamber.,y The* Huid is thus enabled to exert its Epressure on'both sides of 4the head .and 'normally seats the valve, due .to the -larger area ofthe head H within .the ante-chamber, producing a .preponderance of pressure thereon over vthat exerted onthe valve in its working chamber. Associated with the valve-head is .a ,pilotvvalve adapted to relieve this preponderance of pressure Vandconsequently.allow the main valve vto 'be unseated, whenever desired, so

as to establish the communication between the internal passages, respectively connected with the inlet and outlet. The pilot-valve is urged to its seat by a resilient element and intended to function contemporaneously with the main valve, though preceding it in action, both during the seating and the unseating operations. The unseating of the pilot-valve is effected by means of impelling elements, arranged to come under the influence of an electro-magnet mounted in the casing, but operable eXteriorly through suitable electrical connections. rl`he impellers are automatically repelled upon the seating of the pilot-valve, the closing of which in the valve-head re-establishes the prior preponderance of pressure therein and re-seats also the main valve. In addition to being subject to the influence of the electro-magnet, these impelling elements are adapted for actuation by directly acting mechanical means, consisting of a plunger capable of being pressed manually into the casing and bearing against a resilient element through the agency of which it is automatically retracted.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in the one and same structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less than the whole. f

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, upon becoming conversant with the details thereof, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying. drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showing the preferred exemplification of the invention.

As shown in the said drawing, the invention includes a cruciform casing A, having longitudinal runs 11 and 12, and transverse branches 13 and 14. The runs are preferably nrade of dierent diameters, while the branches may be equal in size or approximately.

Axially aligned or concentricy bores 16, 17, 18 and 19 are provided in the said casing, ycentrally vof the runs 11, 12 therein. These bores are conveniently produced from the opposite ends of the casing, in a diame- V tral direction transverse'to its said branches.

An internal passage 20 is formed in a boss 21, intervening between the forward run 11 and the upper branch 13. One end of this passage connects with an exteriorly directed opening 22, while the other end thereof leads into the bore 16. The opening 22 constitutes the inlet of the casing, and is internally threaded to receive the feed end ofl a supply-pipe (not shown). l Another'passage 25 leads from the bore 17 to an opening 26, in the lower branch 14.

The latter-named 'opening also is internally threaded yto receive the end of a delivery pipe (not shown), which will conduct the iiuid away from the casing. The bore 17 and passage 25 constitute practically one discharge for the fluid flowing through the casing, of which the opening 26 is the outlet.

llrom the bore 19, a third passage 27 leads out exteriorly of the casing, in a lateral direction. This passage runs through a boss 2S, threaded to form a socket designed to receive a plug member of an electric device, hereinafter described.

The outer ends of the bores 16 and 19 are closed, respectively, by covers 31 and 32, which are held in place by screws and 34, entered through suitably threaded openings provided in anges 35 and 36, formed on the corresponding extremities of the longitudinal runs 11 and 12, and adapted to make tight joints therewith.

At the junction of the bores 16 and 17 is located a seat 39, with which coacts a valve 40, disposed intermediately upon a hollow stem 41. One extremity of the stem carries a head 42, similar to a piston, and having a working lit in the bore 16. The other eX- tremity of the stem is slidably fitted in the bore 1S which is made in a dividing partition 43, between the bores 17 and 19. The y valve 40, stem 41, and piston 42 may be conveniently made integral with one another, as shown, and therefore the latternamed element may properly be termed either a piston or a valve-head, according to the particular function thereof which it may be intended to single out. The said head, it will be observed, is of larger diameter than the valve 40, and serves to divide the bore 16 into two parts, the inner one of which forms a working chamber for the,

valve, while the other one constitutes an ante-chamber to the same.

A by-pass 44 is provided inthe aforesaid valve-head or piston 42, through which the fluid entering the bore 16, from the internal supply passage 20, is allowed simultaneously to fill the valve-chamber and its ante-chamber, causing the fluid to exert its pressure on both sides of the said head or piston. But, by virtue of the larger area of the side of the piston that faces the ante-chamber, a preponderance of pressure thereon will keep the valve 40 normally closed.

A pilot or relay valve 45, having a seat in the outer end of the hollow valve-stem 41, serves to close the bore thereof` indicated by the reference numeral 46. 4This pilot valve is pressed against its seat by a helical j spring 47, arranged to bear at the opposite ends thereof upon the outer face of the pilotvalve and the inner face of the cover 31, rel spectively. Zhen unseated, the main vvvalve 40 is also limited in its movement,l together with the stem 41, by theheafd'42 coming into contact with astop v48,1 which `in 'F ig. V, that it may loffer as little resistance as possible to theliuid entering the lastnamed bore, when the pilot-valve is Aun-k seated.

Coacting with the guide 50, is `a rod'51, slightly spaced from the latter yat the -in ner terminus thereof, and carrying a diss coidal armature 52, at its outer extremity. As seen in F ig. HI, `approximately one-half ofthe rod 51 is loosely and 'slidably tted in the bore of the hollow valve-'stem 41, while its other half `extends outwardly therefrom into thel bore 19 of the casing.

The aforementioned larmature is adapted to be acted upon by theouterend of a hollow core 53, pertaining to an electro magnet 54, mounted in the said bore 19. As shown, the rod 51 passes axially through the core, and lthe discoidal armature is ordinarily held away from the latter by a coil-spring 55, the inner end whereof is lodged in a recess 56, sunk into the said core. The outer free 'end of this spring bears against the armature and lholds it passive until the electromagnet is energized. Then, the pull of the latter overbalances the power of the spring 55, and draws the! armature up tothe core, whereupon the rod 51 is caused to hit the guide stem 50, 4and lift kthe pilot-valve 'off its seat, overcoming-the,resistance of the resilient `element 47. When this occurs', the fluid (for instance, compressed air) acting upon the outer face-ofthe head 42,'escapes from the ante-chamber, previously described, faster than it' can be supplied lthereto by the by-pass 44. The escaping air or fluid passes into the bore46 of the hollow valve-ste1n 41, and thence flowsout through openings, as 57, formed in the side walls ofthe latter. Contemporaneously, the incoming fluid-supplied `by the inlet 22 through the internal-passage v20, pressing with greater force against the inner face of the head 42 than upon the outer face of the main valve 40, on account of the larger area of the former as compared with that ofthe latter, overcomes the `pressure exerted ont-he valve, which is then movedraway from the seat 39. The valve 40 having been unseated, the fluid becomes Idivided .on both sides thereof, but the maincurrent passes directly from the passage 2() and the innery end of the bore '16, into-the discharge channel provided by thebore 1'7 and passage25, and thence'out through theoutlet 26, to the pipe conducting it to the place where it is to be used. It is well t0-note that the fluid pass ing through #the pilot-valve 45, the bore 46 of the hollow valve-'stem 41., and 'the -openings 57 in the yside walls `of the latter, is not wasted in the least, vbut flows "from the latter-:named 'openings linto "the same discharge channel 'as the main current being delivlered therewith at the-point of utilization.

'At 60 and` 61 areshown the ends of wires Ethat constitute the winding for fthe electromagnet 54, previously mentioned. The said wire ends are anchored to metallic elements 62 and 63, such asare carried by oneof the usual insulators vpertaining to electric plugs 4composed `of separable members, as 64 and appropriate current switching or interruptling appliance could Vbe employed Lin lieu thereof with equal advantage. Furthermore, notwithstanding that the separable connection aforesaid fhas been shown kas directed straight-outward or forwardly of the casing, it is :evident 4that it `could equally as well point in any other direction. Apart from the location `of the -said connection .relatively thereto, it is lplain that the position of the casing` litself admits also of change. Thus, despite the Vfact that it has been represented onthe 'drawing as placed for operation with the Vinlet uppermost, it stands `to reason that the valve would function just as efficiently,y were the casing mounted in any other position.

From the cover 32 projects a boss 70 through which passes a spindle or plunger 7.1. The latter hasattached to its outer extremity an yoperating button or collar 72, which may have a .shoulder integrally formed therewith, as shown. This collaror button is urged Loutwardly by ra helical spring 73, coiled around the said boss 70, and bearing by 'itsop'p'ositezends against the said cover Sand the said collar or button, respectively. A head A74, at the vinner end ofthe spindleor plunger, retainsit in lplace, that is, by precluding Idisassociation thereof from 'the boss 70. The head 74 also serves asa tighteningmeans in preventing the fluid under pressure from seeking its way Lout along the -bore in which the spindle or plunger isslidable. When the, button 72 is pushedfinwardly, the head 74 on the end of the `plunger is moved thereby against the farend ofthe rod 51er the discoidal armature 52, which then lbecomes actuated mechanically, instead of electrically, but with the same result in either case. ln other words, the mere sliding in of the plunger 7l causes the operation of the valve 10,4 in the identical manner hereinbefore described.

Apertured eais 7 5, 76 and 77 are provided on the casing, asa means wherewith to suspend it properly inoperative position. The apertures in the ears, ,it is understood are intended to receive screws or similar fastening elements capable of holding thecasing and itsappurtenances in place on any suitable primary support.

In practice, the invention may be put to several uses, familiarvto persons versed in the art to which it @pertains-.For eX- ample, it may be employed for blowing a whistle on a motor-propelled boat, wherein the power is derived from an internal combustion engine, and there is no steam avail,- able. ln such a case, the casing containing the valve may be secured at any convenient place on the side planking or bulkheads of the boat. Preferably, it will be mounted so as to receive a supply of compressed air from a tank, charged by a pump driven by the boat-propelling motor, but in the absence of a tank, 'it could be connected directly to the pump. On the other hand, the electric circuit wires that are coupled up with the detachable plug members previously spoken of, 'can be led to some distant part of the boat and connected up with a push-button located at any point that may be found convenient for the helmsman.

lhile a certain preferred embodiment of this device has been shown and described, it will be understood that changes in the form, arrangements, proportions, sizes and details thereof may be made, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention what l desireJ to secure by Letters Patent and claim is l. A device of the character described comprising in combination, a casing formed with aligned `chambers and a compartment,

one of the chambers and said compartment having their opposite outer ends open, av

main valve intermediate of `said chambers adapted to interrupt the flow of fluid therethru, a piston of larger area than said valve movable coincidentally therewith, means permitting thefluid to flow on bot-h sides of said piston so that a preponderance of pressure on one side thereof will tend to keep the valve closed, the piston being provided with a passage of greater capacity than said means designed to establish a communication between the. chambers, a pilotvalve arranged to follow movements of the piston serving to maintain said passage shut, an element for opening said pilot-valve to allow the fluid that has passed the means named to escape through the passage in the piston faster than what is supplied thereto,

.whereby the latter will act to move the main valve to produce a direct flow from one chamber to the other, an electromagnet lodged in said compartment, an armature also contained therein capable of controlling said elementthru said magnet, and covers effecting fluid tight closures for the outer ends of one of the chambers and the compartment, while permitting removal of the operating parts of the device without disturbing said casing.

` A device of the character described comprising in combination, a casing formed with aligned chambers and a compartment, one of the chambers and said compartment having their outer ends open, said chambers being adapted for communication with each other, a main valve controlling said communication, a piston of larger area than said valve operatively connected thereto, said piston being pro-vided with a by-pass and a substantially central passage of greater capacity, said bypass permitting the fluid to flow on opposite sides of the piston, the outer face of. the latter admitting of a preponderance of fluid pressure thereon operating normally to close the valve, a pilot-valve resiliently seated in said passage, an element acting in opposition to said pilot-valve to open the passage so as to overcome said pre* ponderaiice of pressure and thereby enable the main valve to become unseated, an. electromagnet lodged against the inner end of said compartment, an oppositely located armature capable of actuating said element thru said magnet, removable covers closing the outer ends of one of thechambers and the compartment, and an offset stop intermediate one of said covers and the piston to limit the travel thereof.

A device of the character described comprising in combination, ay casing having chambers with a valve seat intermediate thereof and including a compartmentbeyond the saine, a main valve coacting with said seat, a hollow stem connected to said valve at one end, a piston at the other end of said stein adapted to move the valve, the inner face of said piston being larger than that of the valve but smaller than its outer face, a by-pass leading the fluid from one side of the piston to the other, a pilot-valve y will be returned to the main body by way of the hollow stem, an electromagnet lodged in said compartment, an armature also contained therein capable of controlling said element thru said magnet, and a hollow boss on said casing communicating with the compartment to accommodate the terminals of the electromagnet.

4:. A device of the character described comprising in combination, a casing having intercommunicating chambers of different diameters and including an enlarged compartment, a main valve seated between said chambers, a laterally perforated tubular stem extending from one chamber into the other and carrying said valve intermediate thereof, a piston also carried by said stem at the outer end of the same, means permitting part of the fluid to reach both sides of the piston, a pil0t-valve normally keeping closed the piston end of the stem, the opposite areas of the main valve and of both faces of the piston being made of progressively increasing size to establish a preponderance of fluid pressure first on the outer face of the piston tending to urgethe main valve to its seat when the pilot-valve is shut, an element operable through the inner end of the tubular stem to open the pilot-valve to shift the pressure preponderance from the outer to the inner face of the piston whereby the irst named valve becomes unseated to let pass the main current of the fluid while said part thereof that reached the outer face of the piston is allowed to escape past the pilot-valve through the tubular stem and its lateral perforations to join the main current, an electromagnet lodged i-n said compartment, an armature also contained therein capable of controlling said element thru said magnet, a hollow boss on the side of said casing communicating with the compartment, a socket affording an anchorage for the terminals of' the electromagnet entered into the interior of said boss, and a detachable wire connection arranged to engage said socket and make contact with said terminals. y

5. A device of the character described comprising in combination, a casing provided with a plurality of bores constituting chambers therein, a main valve having its seat between adjoining chambers, a piston connected with said valve at a distance therefrom and fitted for reciprocation in an outer chamber, a by-pass permitting the fluid to flow on both sides of said piston, the opposite faces of the latter and of the valve being made progressively diminishing in their respective areas so as to obtain a preponderance of fluid pressure first onthe pistons outer face and subsequently on the inner face thereof to close and open the valve respectively, a pilot-valve controlling a passage through the piston and main valve enabling transference of said pressure preponderance, an electro-magnet located in an outer chamber remote from that containing the piston, and an operative connection eecting the opening of said pilotvalve from said magnet, said connection including a rod disposed substantially axially of said casing and operating thru the magnet and the main valve against an end part ofthe pilot valve within the passage controlled thereby.

6. A device of the character described comprising in combination, a casing formed with interconnected chambers separated by a valve seat, a main valvemovable to and from the same, an actuating piston for said valve having inner and outer areas progressively larger than the latter, means enabling the fluid to reach both sides of said piston to establish a preponderance of pressure on either side thereof to open or shut the valve, a pilot-valve normally closing a passage in the piston adapted to throw the pressure preponderance from one to the other of its sides, an electro-magnet mounted in opposed relation to said pilot-valve, an element acted upon by said magnet serving to dislodge the pilot-valve from its seat, and manually operated means independent of of' said element capable of moving the same to unseat the pilot-valve irrespective of the magnet, said means moving in the same direction as the element when unseating the pilot valve but being automatically restored to its initial position in the opposite direction.

7. A device of the character described comprising in combination, a casing having chambers in substantial alignment, a main valve seated between adjacent chambers, a piston capable of' actuating said valve, the area of the latter being smaller in progressive ratio than the pistons inner and outer faces, means allowing the fluid to pass on both sides of said piston to produce a preponderance of pressureon either face thereof t0 close or open the valve, a spring seated pilot-valve controlling the flow of fluid through a passage designed to shift the pressure preponderance from one face to the other of the piston tc reverse the main valves position, an electro-1nagnet situated oppositely to said pilot-valve, a spring 0pposed armature energized by said magnet, a loose connection operable by said armature to unseat the pilot-valve, a spring retracted spindle adapted upon manual operation to move said connection independently kof the magnet, and means at the inner end of said spindle effecting a tight joint therefor when retracted by its spring.

BERNHARD 1VVIGHSER. 

